Comparative study of species composition, relative abundance and distribution of rodents between exclosure and control sites in the Web Valley of the Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia
Comparative study of species composition, relative abundance and distribution of rodents between exclosure and control sites in the Web Valley of the Bale Mountains National Park, Ethiopia
Addishiwot Fekdu, Afework Bekele and Demeke Datiko*
ABSTRACT
This investigation deals with comparative study of rodents between exclosure and control sites, Ethiopia. To collect the rodent fauna, six study grid sites were identified and marked. These were three from exclosure and three from control sites. Twenty-five traps were used to capture the rodents. Four hundred sixty two (462) individuals of small mammals were captured and one recorded as observed species during both dry and wet season. They were identified into six species. Among these, 458 (99.1%) were rodents and 4 (0.9%) were insectivores. The trapped species were: Lophuromys melanonyx (242), Stenocephalemys albocaudata (126), Arvicanthis blicki (86), Mus Mahomet (3), Dendromus lovati (1), and Crocidura fumosa (4). Tachyoryctes macrocephalus was recorded as frequently observed species. Four endemic species of rodents were identified in the area (Lophuromys melanonyx, Arvicanthis blicki, Dendromus lovati and Tachyoryctes macrocephalus). The distribution and abundance of species varied between exclosure and control sites, and between seasons. Livestock grazing in the area was the major problem encountered affecting the rodent population. As a result, proper conservation measures have to be implemented to solve the problems and safeguard the endemic wildlife in the Park.
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